Arsenal 4 - Liverpool 1: Rampant Gunners see off 10-man Reds to move into second

Whether this inferno was in part started by one of the Kop’s own, Raheem Sterling’s contract furore dominating the build up, is open to conjecture. 

Safe to say poor Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers was fighting fires all week and really didn’t need this soul-destroying setback straight after a gut-wrenching defeat against Manchester United. 

What isn’t now in doubt is that the Gunners will claim a Champions League qualifying place while Liverpool will be diverted towards a scramble for the booby prize, a season spent collecting Air Miles in the interminable Europa League.

The Gunners effectively sealed the all-important victory with three goals in the space of eight exhilarating minutes before half-time.

Strangely, Arsenal struck following Liverpool’s brightest spell of a half which had seen Arsene Wenger’s side spring out of the blocks – only two wonderful saves from Simon Mignolet preventing the home side going 2-0 up after just five minutes.

Then the man in the eye of the Anfield storm, Sterling, looked certain to conjure up a goal in the 18th minute after Santi Cazorla had inadvertently passed straight to Philippe Coutinho who quickly found Lazar Markovic completely free inside the Arsenal area. 

Instead of testing David Ospina himself, he unselfishly tried to set up an open goal for the England man, the pass was too heavy and it was shades of Gazza trying to steer in at the far post during Euro 96 against Germany, Sterling going sprawling minus the vital touch.

It was then all hail to a master class of finishing from Arsenal as their momentum continues to build, this their 10th victory in the last 11 league outings while Liverpool’s proud record of going more than 10 hours on opposition soil without conceding a goal went up in smoke.

The opening goal came from an unlikely source, rapidly emerging full-back Hector Bellerin.

The Spaniard was allowed too much wriggle room in the box and, as Alberto Moreno backed off, he curled wonderfully past Mignolet.

Three minutes later Mesut Ozil arose from his slumbers to flight an unstoppable free-kick from the edge of the box, dipping into the corner of the net. It inspired the German to greater heights, often assisted by the workaholic Cazorla.

Arsenal’s red-hot streak wasn’t finished, Alexis Sanchez adding to his collection of wonder strikes in his first season in the Premier League.

He took advantage of a Ramsey pass to blast with venom and accuracy from just outside the box.

Liverpool sent on Daniel Sturridge after the break and enjoyed the greater possession but only had a successfully-converted penalty to show for their resolve – Jordan Henderson netting from the spot after Sterling had been tripped by Bellerin.

Any ambitions of an unlikely comeback were poleaxed when Emre Can received a second yellow card for a dangerous follow-through on Gunners substitute Danny Welbeck.

Worse was to follow as Olivier Giroud – who also had a close-range header palmed over by Mignolet – cut in from the right in added time to celebrate his March Premier League Player of the Month award with his sixth goal in his last five games.

The four goals left March’s Manager of the Month purring. 

Wenger said: “We have that killer instinct. Are we looking up at the top of the table? Yes, but we have to be perfect, and Chelsea not perfect.”

Right now Wenger’s side are on fire – one they don’t want to put out.